Thursday, July 21, 2016

George is, frankly, a near-saint. He is a pacifist, tries not to kill insects, is a vegetarian because he thinks it wrong to kill animals. He has green values, avoids excess, won't drive a car. He lives alone in a small flat, modestly. He is an English teacher and a writer and would work deep into the night to help a student, for no other reason than he wants people to succeed.

Many years ago, George was a Cub Scout and then a Boy-Scout. When he was still a cub, allegations of inappropriate touching were made against a cub-leader who was eventually jailed. That man allegedly touched George's friend (1), who as it happened, in later life, ten or more years after the last time that he and George spoke worked as a rent-boy (2), got into drugs and died of AIDS.

These days, George wants to give even more back and has retrained and works a a Scout-Leader. He loves to see the joy on the faces of kids learning to make a fire or tie a knot (3).

He absolutely loves the summer camps etc. (4)

On one camp, a few boys, NOT under George's jurisdiction sneak out to play in a river and two drown.

George is shocked and, even though it wasn't his fault, he decides to become a politician (6) to work to protect children from predators, to keep them safe from harm. to campaign for ways to develop young people (as girls now are also in the packs). (7)

Now, George is also a Socialist, and somehow (he really isn't sure how) he comes close to power (8). George never really wanted power but he believes in democracy and has a sense of duty.

(7) It's no longer just young boys. Now Bland linked to 8-Year old girls!

[8] I can't-drive Bland Transport Minister? How stupid does it get?

(9) Vegetarian Bland says I'm no PM (but stands anyway)

(10) Vegetarian, insect-loving friend of rent-boys and drug-addicts, who loves nothing more than a weekend in the woods with ten year old boys (and girls!), a man associated with jailed pervert Conrad Xxxxxxx, now asks you to vote for him!

Sunday, July 03, 2016

In the
final week of the Brexit debate, the Prime Minister, David Cameron appeared on
a BBC Question Time Special.

He was
introduced by a BBC “Legend”, appeared in a special constructed studio setting
with an audience carefully at a distance, all in front of him. The PM stood on
a raised dais in front of dramatic coloured backgrounds.

If you take
a snapshot of the PM as the people would have seen him (or as TV showed him) he
is placed in a position of power, nice “regal” colours, no distraction…

There was
no pomp, no circumstance. Prior to Jeremy speaking SKY had two nonentities
jabbering about Brexit on the sidelines. These two remained close by during
Jeremy’s presentation.

No dais, no regal backdrop. Instead Jeremy was presented with a high “kitchen
chair”, had to walk through the higgledy-piggledy crowd to reach his seat, and
sat with people in front, to his side and some behind.

IMO there
was a conscious effort to present him as if this was a meeting in a church
hall. It was amateurish and made Jeremy look like a councillor, not a
statesman.

THIS IS NOT
JEREMY CORBYN’s FAULT.

This was SKY’s “Big Moment”, so why was the presentation
so unbelievably bad? Why did Labour’s campaign people allow such a terrible
setting, a setting which “lowered the status” of the leader of the opposition?

When
Theresa May was presented at the start of her campaign, she appeared in a
carefully arranged setting, surrounded by mahogany, backed by book-shelves.

More often than not JC is presented walking across a field, being jostled,
harassed by reporters. Ask yourself why this happens time after time after
time.

About Me

I'm a full-time writer and teacher of creative writing.
I gave up the day job in 1992 and struck a three-book deal a year later.
Published 5 crime novels 1994-1997 then switched to writing serious short fiction.
I run an internet writing school known as Boot Camp, which is direct and honest and expects hard work.
While in Boot Camp, Boot Campers have won 131 First Prizes, many more after they have left.
Boot Campers and ex-Boot Campers have published or are about to publish 20 Novels and 7 short-story collections.
Six Boot Campers have become editors of journals. Two have earned MA with Distinction in Creative Writing
I tell the truth about writers and writing, which regularly gets me banned from writing sites.
My pet hates are those sites where beginning writers lie to each other about how wonderful their work is. Three years later the writing is basically the same and the praise is even higher. What's missing is genuine growth and worthwhile publications.
Favourite short stories are "A Silver Dish" by Saul Bellow, "The Ledge" by Lawrence Sargeant Hall, "The 27th Man" by Nathan Englander